Reds to call up Romano to start Sunday

CINCINNATI -- The Reds will call up right-handed pitcher Sal Romano from Triple-A Louisville on Sunday to replace the injured Rookie Davis in the rotation and face the Brewers. It will be Romano's Major League debut.

Romano was chosen over pitchers Robert Stephenson and Cody Reed, starting pitcher prospects who are currently in the Reds' bullpen.

CINCINNATI -- The Reds will call up right-handed pitcher Sal Romano from Triple-A Louisville on Sunday to replace the injured Rookie Davis in the rotation and face the Brewers. It will be Romano's Major League debut.

Romano was chosen over pitchers Robert Stephenson and Cody Reed, starting pitcher prospects who are currently in the Reds' bullpen.

"There's a reason why Reed and Stephenson are in the bullpen," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "That reason is that I really feel we can build them into big league starting options for us by building their confidence and getting them confident at this level. We're using the bullpen as that vehicle to get there. Inevitably I think one, if not both, will have the opportunity to start again. I think all of our intentions are certainly to get Cody back into the rotation at some point."

Davis was struck on the right forearm by a pitch during Tuesday's game vs. the Pirates and went on the 10-day disabled list the following day.

Romano, 23, had a 3.13 ERA in six Spring Training games and was one of the final cuts before the team broke camp. He has pitched very well in his first two starts for Louisville, with a 1.38 ERA and 0.92 WHIP. That includes seven scoreless innings with four hits, no walks and five strikeouts vs. Toledo on Tuesday.

"For Sal, it's an opportunity. It might be a short stay. It might not," Price said. "It will depend on how Rookie bounces back from being hit by that pitch. We'll see how it goes. Regardless of how well he pitches, if Rookie is ready to go, Rookie will be starting on the 22nd."

• Through his first eight games, Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart has caught four of six runners trying to steal. That included nailing two would-be stealers during Thursday's 5-1 loss to the Brewers.

Price credited Barnhart, but also the pitchers for controlling the running game.

"He's unloading it quickly and he's been accurate," Price said. "Our pitching coaches in the Minor Leagues are doing a good job of imploring our young pitchers to work on their slide-steps and being quicker to the plate. Certainly, we've spent a lot of time on it here. We can't throw anybody out if our pitchers don't accommodate them with some competitive times."